'As our growth strategy we are planning to open up several mini marts across Dubai, Emirates Express in Ghusais is our first outlet,' said Al Shamandy.

'We aim to make it convenient for our customers to get everything; our product portfolio includes fresh items like fruits & vegetables, deli, meat, fish, bakery and live fish grilling facilities. Plus customers could pick up their daily required essential groceries,' he added.

Among all the co-operative societies in the UAE, he said Emirates Cooperative Society was the first one to launch the mini mart concept.

'We have even kept the pricings at par with our main hypermarkets; Emirates Express wants to be different from other convenient stores, we have moved away from the conventional thinking that the express or convenience outlets are slightly more expensive than the regular outlets,' Al Shamandy noted.

To mark the store opening, Emirates Express has announced a special promotion under which selected fruits & vegetables, bakery, meat, fish and general groceries will be sold at Dh10 ($2.72) till October 2.

'It’s a very good bargain for our customers. And they will be able to save even more,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service